Well what a day! The sun was shining and 13,000 people were crammed down one road in Dublin town centre. The starters’ gun went off and it took us 5 minutes to get to the start line! Then the hard work really began. The marathon was a mix of hills and Country Park and lots of residential roads. The first 13 miles went really well and were completed in a good time. However, my partner (who I was running with) picked up an injury so we walked together for about 5 miles to try and get him back on track.

Unfortunately he was unable to continue to run so persuaded me to leave him and finish on my own. I did feel really bad leaving him on his own, injured, but he said I was making him feel more guilty by him holding me back. So I ran the last 9.2 miles on my own.

The crowd were brilliant. There was a plentiful supply of jelly sweets from onlookers and plenty of cheering at the finish. I could almost feel the crowd carry me at the 25 mile marker, the atmosphere was electric. I almost skipped over the finish line and then had a good cry!

My first marathon was an amazing experience - and helped to raise £211 for the donkeys.

I ended up completing it in 5 hours and 16 minutes. In all just over 10,000 completed the marathon so I am very pleased with how I did.

The next couple of days I was getting lots of very strange looks. To say I was sore was an understatement! But by Thursday I was well on the way to feeling normal again and I’m completely fine and back at work now.

But of all the mad things, I think I might do another marathon. Loch Ness is in October next year, so a better length of time to train. Who knows? What have I got myself into?....

Thanks to everyone for your support.